Slain soldiers to be honoured as part of Remembrance Day, government says ahead of two-year anniversary of Hill attack

Conservatives took turns hammering the Liberal government Friday, one accusing them outright of “dishonouring” two slain soldiers by failing to mark Saturday’s second anniversary of the attack on Parliament Hill.

York-Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan said during question period in the House of Commons that Oct. 22 marks “two years since a jihadist terrorist struck at the heart of our freedom and democracy.”

Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was gunned down “just steps from here” as he guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial while “the thickness of a door and brave actions of our Hill security staff saved members here a similar fate,” Van Loan said.

It was two days after a jihadist murdered W.O. Patrice Vincent, he said, who was killed in a targeted hit and run in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.

“Last year, our government honoured the sacrifice of these men, but this year the Liberals want Canadians to forget,” Van Loan charged. “There will be no memorial.

“Why are the Liberals dishonouring these fallen men and trying to pretend that these jihadist attacks never happened?”

Patrice Vincent

John Brassard, MP for Barrie-Innisfil and critic for veterans affairs, paid tribute to “two brave men for their sacrifice” and sent “sincere gratitude” to their families. He noted that the previous Conservative government initiated a large ceremony at the National War Memorial for the first anniversary. It included a speech by the Governor General, a march past by Cirillo’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, a CF-18 fly-past in missing-man formation and the unveiling of a permanent plaque commemorating Cirillo at the site.

“Yet, this year there is no commemoration, no event, and no honour is being paid to these fallen heroes by the government,” Brassard said. “ I think I can safely say on behalf of all veterans and all Canadians that we are deeply saddened by this.”

Rona Ambrose, interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and leader of the Opposition, chimed in on Facebook.

“Last year, they were remembered,” she said. “This year, there is no commemoration, no event and no honour is being paid to these fallen heroes.

“I think most Canadians would agree this is a shame.”

Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr said that all Canadians remember the “tragic events” of Oct. 20 and 22, 2014, mourn the deaths of Vincent and Cirillo and extend sympathies to their families.

“It is at events in Ottawa Nov. 11 and others across Canada and the world where we will join together as a nation and as a people to recognize and pay tribute to all those brave Canadian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice, in wartime and in peace, at home and abroad to safeguard our values and our way of life,” Hehr said.

“We will remember.”

Evan Koronewski, a spokesman for the Department of National Defence, said that while an event was held on the one-year anniversary, the decision was made by the department to subsequently honour the two soldiers on Nov. 11 along with Canada’s other fallen.

“On Remembrance Day, we honour all of those fallen soldiers — that obviously includes the two of them,” Koronewski said.

David McGuinty, Liberal MP for Ottawa South, paid tribute to the impact of the Oct. 22 attack during question period, noting that just a few hundred metres away, “a mother lost a son, a son lost a father and an entire nation mourned the loss of a dedicated soldier.”

Cirillo had been standing guard at the monument to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of freedom, McGuinty said.

“Today, we stand in unwavering support of those that choose to watch over us, thankful for their sacrifice and resolute in our commitment to continue fighting for a world free of fear, injustice and oppression.

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”

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